Upcoming Releases

I posted on the other MacDuff non-merchant thread about Birch + Root.  Its a great soap and scent as well.  That v4 soap base is excellent, top tier in my opinion    The scent to me is root beer off the puck but lathers up with a little more complexity.  I get some musk in the lather as well as in the splash after the dry down.

I also tried a sample of Autumn Cabin again in the excellent v4 base.  A really nice autumn woodsy cabin scent.  Very subtle maple in there.  While I love maple you have to be careful with it because it can be cloying and way too over the top fake maple smell like the Traeger car air freshener give away!  Way too much.  Autumn Cabin is not like that.  I ordered a full set of that one.

and, for good measure I also tried MacDuff's Prairie Rum Runner.  Excellent.  Now if you're a Bay Rum fan (freak?) like myself, don't  expect to get a full on in your face super potent bay rum.  No, this one is a very nice, subtle and complex scent that was probably worn by a very sophisticated, suave and stylish rum runner.  Obviously with a higher class clientele    Its a really nice scent.  I had to order a full size of this one from Top of The Chain as Sean is sold out of it for the time being and Carmine has just started carrying MacDuff at Top of The Chain.  It all works out.  I may be wrong but I think you can still get MacDuff Bay Rum in the v3 soap base at a discount.  I have that one too and its very nice.

Now if I could get my hands on some Badlands.  I have fond memories of the Alberta Badlands both as a child myself and as a father with my own (then) young children.  Cool place, how can you not love a place called The Badlands and there's hoodoos as well although you can't climb on them like we did when I was a kid.  I guess kids can be destructive.  Who knew??

I received a shipment from Macduff's yesterday full of great stuff. I haven't lathered any up yet but I'll give my initial thoughts.

Coast to Coast - this is a nice fresh smelling soap, I think I'll really like it

Autumn Cabin  - already told you, its a great fall scent. I inadvertently ordered two tubs of this one so it looks like my son will be getting a tub as well 

Almond Biscotti - OK, this one I was on the fence about getting because I'm not really an almond guy but the label with the MacDuff himself on it was just too cool so I got it.  Its a great scent, definitely almond with a biscotti -cookie note in there. I'm looking forward to lathering this one.

One other thing if you've ordered MacDuff in the past but not lately, v 4 is amazing and the soap is now packed into the standard containers that we all now expect.  Great job Sean.

I showered and shaved with MacDuff's Autumn Cabin this morning - bath soap and shaving soap respectively    What an awesome soap and an awesome scent.  I've spent a lot of time in the mountains and valleys of the Canadian Rockies just west of here and this is how they smell - Its hard to describe but there is no artificial cleaner pine-sol scent here no sir.  Its very nice and very natural smelling.   Sean is really coming into his own as a scent maker.   I've already said it but it bears saying again, v4 is a fantastic base.  Rich and thick, you don't need to load much and it will take a ton of water.  Very slick with that post feel that some guys are crazy about.  Good crazy though, not Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver crazy, more like Inigo Montoya in Princess Bride crazy   Still crazy but in a good way.

Hi DFS!  Sorry for my abscence, I have been without internet for over a month but finally have it back just in time for the release of Winter Cabin next Thursday!

Notes: Raspberry, Velvet, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Elemi, Saffron, Cardamom, Fir, Guaiacwood, Cedar

"What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness." - John Steinbeck
 
Winter Cabin continues the popular "Cabin" series that started with Autumn. While Autumn Cabin is a more literal interpretation, Winter Cabin is more abstract, trying to capture the sweet comfort of being surrounded by night and snow. Raspberry is the dominant note supported by the combination of sandalwood, vanilla and velvet. Saffron absolute, cardamom and smoky guaiacwood give the sweeter top notes some nuance, while the addition of elemi and fir essential oils lend a balsam touch.

The V4 version is much different than last year's V3 version despite sharing many of the same notes. The "velvet" note is much less prominent, making way for the newer additions of elemi, fir, saffron, cardamom and guaiacwood.

Due to shipments being held at the border I have no choice but to push back the release date of Winter Cabin for my American stockists.

I contacted UPS and they could give me no other information other than my shipments were being inspected by the FDA. I’ll keep you all updated as to when the shipments are scheduled to arrive.

I want to offer my apologies to both my American customers and stockists for this delay. For my next release I’ll have to do better with my release dates and give a wider berth to the unexpected.

I used MacDuff's Birch + Root this morning soap and splash.  

I used MacDuff's Birch + Root this morning soap and splash.  

Glad you like the Birch + Root Mark.  I like it too.

I picked up the Winter Cabin set yesterday from The Shave Supply, and it hit the post office the same day!  (Thank you Gareth.)  The previous and current Winter Cabin versions differ regarding scent, but the current scent profile still sounds intriguing, and I have zero concerns about performance.  USPS gives an ETA of FEB 4 - notwithstanding the snow event I imagine - but in any case, it is anticipation time for now.

Spring releases are better late than never-- May 11 (Wednesday) 11 am PST Spring Cabin, Rose Gold and Lilacs in Bloom will be live on my site and at your preferred online retailer. 

I have tweaked all the scents:


Spring Cabin
Notes: Cedarwood, Bergamot, Lemon, Grapefruit, Yuzu, Tangerine, Cucumber, Cypress, Cardamom, Peppercorn

Spring Cabin gets an overhaul with a reduction of cucumber and the addition of bergamot, cardamom and cypress. The cedar component is now made with a nice blend of ten varieties cedar essential oils for some added richness and nuance in the base notes. 



Lilacs in Bloom
Notes: Lilac, Lily of the Valley, Lemon, Peony, White Musk, Labdanum, Galbanum, Ylang Ylang, Peach, Jasmine
The scent is largely the same with some added realism thanks to the addition of lilac absolute and a "green" accord I made using ylang ylang, jasmine and galbanum.


Rose Gold
Notes: Rosewood, Ho Wood, Rosehip, Candy Apple, Jasmine, Geranium, Lemon, Amber, Coconut, Musk
the same idea as before but with more naturals present--this helps open up and lighten the scent.



There's a good chance I won't be returning to Lilacs and Rose Gold next spring with the intent of bringing back some other  seasonals that I couldn't get to this year.
And since I've been getting a lot of questions about this, here's what won't be coming back this summer: Coast to Coast, Lychee is a Stone Fruit and Sauvignon Blanc.  What will be back is Raspberry Metheglin, Sea to Sky and Royal Earl Grey (I'll be overhauling the Earl Grey).

Looking forward to Sea to Sky! Thanks for the update.

Coming Wednesday July 13 at all your favourite stockists!

SUMMER CABIN

Notes: Persian Lime, Tahitian Lime, Calabrian Bergamot, Lemongrass Sicilian Lemon, Litsea, Nutmeg, Ginger, Turmeric, Coriander, Rose Geranium, Himalayan Cedarwood, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Benzoin, Jasmine

"If only it could be like this always--always summer, always alone, the fruit always ripe" - Evelyn Waugh

Summer Cabin makes a bold entrance with a bright and tangy lime forward citrus opening with notes of bergamot, lemon and litsea. Turmeric, ginger and coriander blend right in, giving the citrus some lift and complexity.

The citrus intensity doesn’t last long, revealing a much warmer lemongrass theme with nuances of rose geranium and nutmeg. These notes then begin to mingle with a creamy jasmine and sandalwood base, supported by spicy Himalayan cedar wood, earthy vetiver and vanilla-esque benzoin.


RASPBERRY METHEGLIN

Notes: Raspberry, Raw Honeycomb, Ginger, Vanilla, Rosehip, Hibiscus, Beeswax

I draw inspiration for our scents from a lot of different things—this one comes from a favourite mead (honey wine) that I made. I knew the combination of flavours would translate well into a spicy gourmand scent for my shave soap (metheglin is a variety of mead that is made with herbs and spices).

Raspberry and raw honeycomb make up the main notes, supported by ginger and a touch of florals from hibiscus, rosehip and beeswax absolute.